AN EARLY warning for water scarcity has been issued to those in the Wee County that abstract large quantities from supply sources.

Along with many areas in southern and central Scotland, Clackmannanshire is in the “early warning” category, according to last week's water scarcity report by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Water abstractors, those who have a license to take large quantities of water from a supply source, are being urged to be monitor their activities and plan ahead.

Businesses should review available options to increase their resilience, with land managers asked to consider investing in equipment and infrastructure to improve efficiency, such as an irrigation lagoon.

Those collecting water from the same source are urged to work together with neighbours and stagger abstractions to make best use of available water.

Nathan Critchlow-Watton, head of water and planning at SEPA, said: “With very little to no rainfall forecast across Scotland in the coming days, we expect ground conditions to continue getting drier and river flows to decrease or remain low.

“The next few weeks and months are a crucial time of year for water demand and we’re urging abstractors to manage water wisely, minimising the need for restrictions to be imposed by SEPA.”

The agency said Scotland’s climate is changing and, across the seasons, businesses are experiencing the impacts of more frequent extreme weather events like water scarcity.

The number of serious drought events is projected to increase from an average of one every 20 years, to one every two years in the near future.

Critchlow-Watton added: “We all have a role to play in managing our water environment, this summer and beyond.

“Through the efficient use of water, businesses can increase their resilience to the impacts of prolonged dry conditions and save money.”

Alert level has been reached for the first time this year with the report published last Thursday, May 25.

In Scotland, the highest risk of water scarcity is in the area around Loch Maree in the Highlands where the area has been increased to alert level.

It comes after very low river flows and dry ground conditions were recorded.

The risk of water scarcity is categorised in four levels with the early warning, alert, moderate scarcity and significant scarcity levels.